"I am a renovator more than I am a builder. I love the old bones, the memories and even the awkward clown pictures on the wall. I love the old stories that cause you to laugh out loud even when they are sooo awkward and I love the sense of history in a “place” and the way that often, below the red shag carpet and under the layers of silver wallpaper are hardwood floors that just need some elbow grease to be beautiful again and carpentry that speaks of a craftsmanship from another time." from Todd Bolsinger's blog: "It Takes a Church"
All you builders out there, what if a replica of the Great Northern Train Depot was built in Crookston? It could be the Community Center we are all yearning for. Between it and the former Cathedral, and the Post Office and Trinity Lutheran Church forms a great central square to focus our economic development efforts. Plus it will add to the sense of historic Crookston full of antiques, collectibles, and thrift stores. And that brings on another idea: The former SuperValue as giant thrift store. Oooh. Anyone? I'm pretty busy saving four historic buildings.
Showing posts with label revitalization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label revitalization. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Part VII Last Part of Seven Point Vision for Crookston
Develop the focus on the Arts for Downtown Crookston
Crookston already has a strong arts community. There are over 11 groups in Crookston right now. How can we take advantage of what we have and take it to the next level? Here’s the last part of my seven point vision for revitalizing Crookston. Why not capitalize on the vacant spaces in town for working spaces, performing spaces and affordable housing for artists? Those of you who picked up the first Prairie Skyline Foundation’s printed newsletter at the Irishman’s Shanty have the heads up on you. Let’s move forward by developing a Center for the Arts for performing and display space.
“No other state or nation supports the number and range of artists’ centers that Minnesota does.” Said Ann Markusen, author of the new study: “Artists’ Centers: Evolution and Impact on Careers, Neighborhoods and Economies.” Pam Holsinger Fuchs sent this article from the author to me awhile ago knowing I had long thought the arts center concept would be perfect for the former Cathedral on Ash Street. The article comes from the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) Reporter, Summer 2006 issue. It was such a great article that I am daring to synopsize it.
First it defines an artist center as being different from other artist-serving organizations and training institutions by having “(1) a dedicated space for gatherings, shared equipment, personal or group work, and exhibitions or performances; and (2) an open door, in the sense that anyone who expresses an interest may become a member; have access to events and services at an affordable price; and apply for merit-based mentorships, funding, and exhibitions.” Do we have a building or buildings? YES, the former Cathedral on Ash Street combined with the former Carnegie Library is perfectly suited for it. Just check out the architect drawings of the performance and display capabilities of the former gothic Catholic cathedral above.
Small towns such as Northfield, Grand Marais, and New York Mills have centers serving artists. Just imagine the former Cathedral with live music filling the space, perhaps using the antiphonal balconies, with visual art by local artists fill the walls and moveable panels. “New York Mills Regional Cultural Center hosts six to eight gallery exhibitions a year, some showcasing emerging local artists or historic community photos, and many performances. Visiting and area poets, authors, and storytellers share their work through readings and workshops. Traveling theater, music and dance groups perform in the gallery. The center helps artists overcome the disadvantages of being far from a major city. A monthly artist forum series brings together artists from all over the area to network and critique each other’s work. In addition the center works with other organizations to educate artists about the business side of the arts. Visiting artists offer jazz improvisation workshops, build public sculptures with community members and interact with community youth.”
Art centers are valuable community assets. The Cathedral Gallery or the Crookston Community Center for the Arts (or other appropriate name) will provide exhibition space for new and cutting edge contemporary art as well as traditional fine art. Besides visual arts, The Arts Center will also provide facilities for theatre, music, performance art and other arts, as well as art education. The proposed site is the former Cathedral on Ash Street. The former Cathedral is gothic in style with a large nave that when included with the three balconies, two of which are antiphonal seats up to 1000 people. The former altar area is perfect for a stage with two areas just off the “stage,” the North Sacristy and the South Storage area make it perfect for plays, dance, and theatre arts as well as music performances. The northwest region of Minnesota is ripe with artistic talent (over 100 active visual artists) who long for such a “jewel on the prairie” showplace and are willing to consign works for sale for a 30% commission. (On-line survey 2005 NWRDC)
Arts and tourism have long been known as economic development tools even though Arts Centers rely heavily on memberships and on local contributions. We propose to keep operating costs down by offering the building to local electric suppliers and contractors to use as an example of newer energy efficient technologies such as solar and geothermal.
The Center could also have a museum aspect qualifying the project for Institute for Museum Sciences grants. A theme of the French Catholic and Native American foundation of the original St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s the wooden pro-cathedral that preceded the Cathedral for the English speaking, celebrates the Oxcart travel and makes a nice tie into Crookston. Another possibility is a Northwestern Minnesota Gateway Visitor’s Center bringing in state tourism dollars and or a Transportation Enhancement grant. At this time the funding plan of owner, Prairie Skyline Foundation, Inc., is to raise $40,000 through leveraging small grants and donations to apply for a Federal Environmental Protection “Brownfield’s” Clean-up grant of $160,000. The new total of $200,000 will go a long way towards leveraging a McKnight Foundation capital grant for the Arts Center. It is possible that we go before the State Legislature to be included in their bonding bill for the final funding piece of the The $1.2 million dollar Arts Center.
It’s been documented that youth in the neighborhood have been energized and engaged by the arts. And indeed we will want to encourage small grantors interested in human development and furthering intercultural interaction like the new arts program at the Care and Share Shelter. Older residents can interact with the younger generation. The arts attract people with kids to the community. The arts can turn downtown around, supplying positive energy. The arts can create new connections between new partners, such as Artspace, a non-profit low-income housing developer who could develop the former “Professional Building.” No other field of interest, even sports, can provide the culture needed to attract the business executives needed to grow the community. With the support of the many arts organizations and community leaders in Crookston alone, we can jumpstart the economic center and character of Crookston.
Crookston already has a strong arts community. There are over 11 groups in Crookston right now. How can we take advantage of what we have and take it to the next level? Here’s the last part of my seven point vision for revitalizing Crookston. Why not capitalize on the vacant spaces in town for working spaces, performing spaces and affordable housing for artists? Those of you who picked up the first Prairie Skyline Foundation’s printed newsletter at the Irishman’s Shanty have the heads up on you. Let’s move forward by developing a Center for the Arts for performing and display space.
“No other state or nation supports the number and range of artists’ centers that Minnesota does.” Said Ann Markusen, author of the new study: “Artists’ Centers: Evolution and Impact on Careers, Neighborhoods and Economies.” Pam Holsinger Fuchs sent this article from the author to me awhile ago knowing I had long thought the arts center concept would be perfect for the former Cathedral on Ash Street. The article comes from the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) Reporter, Summer 2006 issue. It was such a great article that I am daring to synopsize it.
First it defines an artist center as being different from other artist-serving organizations and training institutions by having “(1) a dedicated space for gatherings, shared equipment, personal or group work, and exhibitions or performances; and (2) an open door, in the sense that anyone who expresses an interest may become a member; have access to events and services at an affordable price; and apply for merit-based mentorships, funding, and exhibitions.” Do we have a building or buildings? YES, the former Cathedral on Ash Street combined with the former Carnegie Library is perfectly suited for it. Just check out the architect drawings of the performance and display capabilities of the former gothic Catholic cathedral above.
Small towns such as Northfield, Grand Marais, and New York Mills have centers serving artists. Just imagine the former Cathedral with live music filling the space, perhaps using the antiphonal balconies, with visual art by local artists fill the walls and moveable panels. “New York Mills Regional Cultural Center hosts six to eight gallery exhibitions a year, some showcasing emerging local artists or historic community photos, and many performances. Visiting and area poets, authors, and storytellers share their work through readings and workshops. Traveling theater, music and dance groups perform in the gallery. The center helps artists overcome the disadvantages of being far from a major city. A monthly artist forum series brings together artists from all over the area to network and critique each other’s work. In addition the center works with other organizations to educate artists about the business side of the arts. Visiting artists offer jazz improvisation workshops, build public sculptures with community members and interact with community youth.”
Art centers are valuable community assets. The Cathedral Gallery or the Crookston Community Center for the Arts (or other appropriate name) will provide exhibition space for new and cutting edge contemporary art as well as traditional fine art. Besides visual arts, The Arts Center will also provide facilities for theatre, music, performance art and other arts, as well as art education. The proposed site is the former Cathedral on Ash Street. The former Cathedral is gothic in style with a large nave that when included with the three balconies, two of which are antiphonal seats up to 1000 people. The former altar area is perfect for a stage with two areas just off the “stage,” the North Sacristy and the South Storage area make it perfect for plays, dance, and theatre arts as well as music performances. The northwest region of Minnesota is ripe with artistic talent (over 100 active visual artists) who long for such a “jewel on the prairie” showplace and are willing to consign works for sale for a 30% commission. (On-line survey 2005 NWRDC)
Arts and tourism have long been known as economic development tools even though Arts Centers rely heavily on memberships and on local contributions. We propose to keep operating costs down by offering the building to local electric suppliers and contractors to use as an example of newer energy efficient technologies such as solar and geothermal.
The Center could also have a museum aspect qualifying the project for Institute for Museum Sciences grants. A theme of the French Catholic and Native American foundation of the original St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s the wooden pro-cathedral that preceded the Cathedral for the English speaking, celebrates the Oxcart travel and makes a nice tie into Crookston. Another possibility is a Northwestern Minnesota Gateway Visitor’s Center bringing in state tourism dollars and or a Transportation Enhancement grant. At this time the funding plan of owner, Prairie Skyline Foundation, Inc., is to raise $40,000 through leveraging small grants and donations to apply for a Federal Environmental Protection “Brownfield’s” Clean-up grant of $160,000. The new total of $200,000 will go a long way towards leveraging a McKnight Foundation capital grant for the Arts Center. It is possible that we go before the State Legislature to be included in their bonding bill for the final funding piece of the The $1.2 million dollar Arts Center.
It’s been documented that youth in the neighborhood have been energized and engaged by the arts. And indeed we will want to encourage small grantors interested in human development and furthering intercultural interaction like the new arts program at the Care and Share Shelter. Older residents can interact with the younger generation. The arts attract people with kids to the community. The arts can turn downtown around, supplying positive energy. The arts can create new connections between new partners, such as Artspace, a non-profit low-income housing developer who could develop the former “Professional Building.” No other field of interest, even sports, can provide the culture needed to attract the business executives needed to grow the community. With the support of the many arts organizations and community leaders in Crookston alone, we can jumpstart the economic center and character of Crookston.
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
Part 6 of my vision for Crookston
I’m sorry to be so slow getting this out to you, do you remember the other five parts? They are: Part I, Slow down, make it beautiful, and peaceful, Part II Address Parking once and for all, Part III antiques, collectibles, thrifts make a great destination, Part IV Bring people downtown through affordable rental housing, events and UMC, Part V create the best schools ever and after attending a recent 'strategic planning' session, I must say our goals must be much much higher, why not a magnet school for math, science, and engineering? or fine arts? or the highest GPA sports students ever?
Finally here is Part VI: Everybody talks to each other and everybody has meaningful work. Ok, I know, that’s two goals in one. Think though, if everyone talks to everyone else either by the Crookston Daily Times Guestbook, or email, or on the phone or in person, everyone would indeed have meaningful work because of our relationships with others, talking about our problems, and working together to solve them. And I must make one qualifying statement, and that is, we speak to each other while keeping our best manners, and our most open mind. Using our minds to concentrate and really listen. To respect all races, all income levels, and to take the time to have those conversations. Believe me I know its easy to say and tough to do, and sometimes when I try, I get slapped in the face, but oh well, its not the end of the world or anything.
And since I have only found part time work so far, I have spent my time thinking about Crookston and writing grant applications. Plus I’m an introvert, not a talker really. I should have gotten out and about and talked with as many people as I could. Surely there is someone somewhere who could put me to work full time in and around Crookston. Many times I thought to myself “I have no skills! Stupid Bachelor’s degree in marketing means nothing! The American Dream is dead! How will I pay the next bill!? But the Lord has provided and people in Crookston have been kind.
And so we must all continue to be kind, fair, and hopeful for Crookston. 50% are on the federal free school lunch program and I suspect the rate is higher than that, 18% Hispanic population, lots of homelessness, people on disability, and those that are trying to help them. But it takes a village to raise a child, a village to start a business, and a village to communicate with parents, teachers, community leaders, those doing the laundry for the hospital, and the hospital executive director. The leaders and the followers, the sports people and the arts people, the farm kids and the town kids, the poor kids and those from families more well off. I’ve found over the years that if you talk long enough, you will find something to connect you to the other person and then fear goes away, and new opportunities arise.
One thing we could do right away is add a “Time Dollars program” to our community. Imagine the young helping the elderly for time-dollars that they can go spend to obtain other services that they need. A person called “mmaps” on the Crookston Times Guestbook said that Crookston has a service base, not a retail base, and that’s true, so why not capitalize on it, and if the retail sector can afford it, they could join in and redeem time dollars as well! Imagine it! The homeless helping the poor non-profits with their works, and proving their worthiness to hire, the smarter kids helping those that need tutoring, parents helping teachers, teachers helping parents, people could apprentice again if paid in time dollars, not real dollars, kids could get some useful skills instead of one shop class in their whole life. Instead of a strings tied government program, we could help ourselves with our own teams of "Youthbuild" or "Self Help Housing" the list could go on and on. But it only works with frequent respectful communication.
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Monday, October 5, 2009
Part V of My Vision for Crookston starts with comment from Patsy
Patsy said: "I've realized recently that Crookston is really a paper tiger in that people are generally poor and have little money to spend even for the most basic necessities. Those conditions lead to a clear division between the haves or popular in town and the have nots. I see it more and more in the community, more division both economic and in status connected social circles. The new hockey arena, quite truthfully, scares me in that if we, or the leaders, have guessed wrong about what we really need to substain us instead of what we may need just to survive, then Crookston is pretty much finished or the best days have already passed before us. The stats, trends, and local leadership, who seems to be caught in a 1950's-60's time warp, make Crookston's future linked to the aged, middle aged and elderly. Certainly not to a up and coming youth movement. Kay, am I on something or onto something?"
Patsy, Your comment/question needs to be out there on the front page of my blog, not hidden in the comments. I believe that all government is a “paper tiger,” in that it seems all powerful, but that is only because of our fear and/or lack of knowledge of how it works. When we have no fear, we can make change happen. It saddens me to quote that the “poor are always with us,” and the division you talk about is everywhere you go and yes, the division between the “haves” and the “have nots” seems to be widening everywhere, not only here in Crookston, where ½ of us make less than $34,609 (2000 census) per household, and 12.4% of individuals are living at or below Federal poverty level of $10,830 yearly income. A better income judge is the number of kids on free or reduced school lunches. Last time I checked it was over 50%.
I read an article a few years back that is even truer today than when it was written. This report finds that the richest could have given billions more in 2000 and I suspect that it holds true today.
“According to a new report from NewTithing Group, "http://www.newtithing.org, a nonprofit donor education and research organization, the nation's wealthiest four hundred taxpayers could have donated billions more than they did in 2000 without sacrificing their lifestyles.
Data provided by the Internal Revenue Service revealed that taxpayers with the highest reported incomes in 2000 made an average of $174 million and donated, on average, $25.3 million, for a total of $10.1 billion, or 6.9 per cent of the $146 billion in charitable donations that Americans declared on their tax returns. According to the report, however, the same group of individuals could have comfortably given nearly one-and-a-half times that amount, representing an aggregate increase of more than $4 billion, without compromising their financial well-being.
"Charities and social services face severe long-term funding cuts in one of the worst fiscal crises for states in fifty years," said NewTithing founder and Chairman Claude Rosenberg. "An additional $19 billion could have kept open fifty homeless shelters that have been closed in fifteen Midwestern states in the last year alone; help schools and the underprivileged in California, which is struggling to decide which services to cut, including in higher education; [and] improve the quality of life in Massachusetts, where social services could decline after another round of budget cuts....[W]wealthy tax filers -- and certainly the wealthiest four hundred -- can come to the nation's rescue by donating the maximum they can comfortably afford to those charities that can provide a solid social return on investment."
"Wealthiest 400 Could Comfortably Afford to Give Billions More." NewTithing Group Press Release 1/01/04.
Indeed, the best days have already passed before us in the 50’s and 60’s, and that is everywhere as well. The problem that no one wants to address is “What do we want Crookston to be like when our kids have kids?” And they are having kids now and working two to four jobs and paying one or two child support payments. And the reason no one wants to take on that question is that it is a much more risky question to answer than dealing with the risk of future costs of the hockey arena.
Unfortunately, the economic dichotomy will all even out as the baby boomers age and decline in health and find that those with wiped out retirement funds end up in the same situation as those that had none in the first place. Lots of people give me a funny look when I say, the cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” Not the aging, the tight-fisted, or the fearful, but the youth and their creativity are the key to re-inventing Crookston. And that leads to me to say that Part V of “My Vision for Crookston,” is to offer the best schools ever in Crookston and we will draw more people to come and live and stay and open shops and do things than ever before in this “our bedroom community.”
Patsy, Your comment/question needs to be out there on the front page of my blog, not hidden in the comments. I believe that all government is a “paper tiger,” in that it seems all powerful, but that is only because of our fear and/or lack of knowledge of how it works. When we have no fear, we can make change happen. It saddens me to quote that the “poor are always with us,” and the division you talk about is everywhere you go and yes, the division between the “haves” and the “have nots” seems to be widening everywhere, not only here in Crookston, where ½ of us make less than $34,609 (2000 census) per household, and 12.4% of individuals are living at or below Federal poverty level of $10,830 yearly income. A better income judge is the number of kids on free or reduced school lunches. Last time I checked it was over 50%.
I read an article a few years back that is even truer today than when it was written. This report finds that the richest could have given billions more in 2000 and I suspect that it holds true today.
“According to a new report from NewTithing Group, "http://www.newtithing.org, a nonprofit donor education and research organization, the nation's wealthiest four hundred taxpayers could have donated billions more than they did in 2000 without sacrificing their lifestyles.
Data provided by the Internal Revenue Service revealed that taxpayers with the highest reported incomes in 2000 made an average of $174 million and donated, on average, $25.3 million, for a total of $10.1 billion, or 6.9 per cent of the $146 billion in charitable donations that Americans declared on their tax returns. According to the report, however, the same group of individuals could have comfortably given nearly one-and-a-half times that amount, representing an aggregate increase of more than $4 billion, without compromising their financial well-being.
"Charities and social services face severe long-term funding cuts in one of the worst fiscal crises for states in fifty years," said NewTithing founder and Chairman Claude Rosenberg. "An additional $19 billion could have kept open fifty homeless shelters that have been closed in fifteen Midwestern states in the last year alone; help schools and the underprivileged in California, which is struggling to decide which services to cut, including in higher education; [and] improve the quality of life in Massachusetts, where social services could decline after another round of budget cuts....[W]wealthy tax filers -- and certainly the wealthiest four hundred -- can come to the nation's rescue by donating the maximum they can comfortably afford to those charities that can provide a solid social return on investment."
"Wealthiest 400 Could Comfortably Afford to Give Billions More." NewTithing Group Press Release 1/01/04.
Indeed, the best days have already passed before us in the 50’s and 60’s, and that is everywhere as well. The problem that no one wants to address is “What do we want Crookston to be like when our kids have kids?” And they are having kids now and working two to four jobs and paying one or two child support payments. And the reason no one wants to take on that question is that it is a much more risky question to answer than dealing with the risk of future costs of the hockey arena.
Unfortunately, the economic dichotomy will all even out as the baby boomers age and decline in health and find that those with wiped out retirement funds end up in the same situation as those that had none in the first place. Lots of people give me a funny look when I say, the cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” Not the aging, the tight-fisted, or the fearful, but the youth and their creativity are the key to re-inventing Crookston. And that leads to me to say that Part V of “My Vision for Crookston,” is to offer the best schools ever in Crookston and we will draw more people to come and live and stay and open shops and do things than ever before in this “our bedroom community.”
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Friday, August 28, 2009
5 More Prayers for Crookston
That the former Carnegie Library can be maintained until a creative re-use can come forward.
That the Banks of Crookston reconsider sponsoring an affordable housing program grant application for the Union Building.
That a new community gathering space evolves downtown, perhaps the four floors of the former Kay’s Attic building?
That City Leaders slow down traffic and encourage the big trucks to use the bypasses, so that downtown is safer, quieter, has more diagonal parking, has more walkability, and is more of a visual pleasure for shoppers and visitors.
That we fight off modern day laziness and endure slight inconveniences with all the strength of our forefathers and mothers.
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